18 June 2019 | UK NEWS
17:50: We are now awaiting the results for the second round of the Conservative leadership contest.
The secret ballot, which closed at 17:00, is currently being counted and around 18:00 we shall find out who has managed to secure that magic number of at least 33 votes.
Boris Johnson, who stormed to victory in the first round of voting, is expected to make a few more gains with the likes of Matt Hancock and Andrea Leadsom coming on baord to support him.
It has also been reported that the Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, has lost one or two supporters to Boris, so could we see Mr Gove slip into a dangerous position?
18:06 – Results: Live results as they come in from the Palace of Westminster…
* Next to their name means they have been eliminated from the race.
Michael Gove – 41 votes
Jeremy Hunt – 46 votes
Sajid Javid – 33 votes
Boris Johnson – 126 votes
*Dominic Raab – 30 votes
Rory Stewart – 37 votes
Summary: The results are in and as expected Boris Johnson has yet again won by a country mile. However, the “people’s politician”, Rory Stewart, has doubled his vote from last time securing 37 votes to overtake both Dominic Raab and Sajid Javid.
It will now be a question of who Mr Raab and his supporters will be getting behind. Could we see Sajid Javid drop out from the race and get behind Mr Stewart?
Looking forward to the debate this evening, all 5 candidates will be present at the lecterns with Emily Maitlis chairing tonight’s affair. It will be Boris Johnson’s first appearance in a debate since hustings began. He was absent from Channel 4’s debate on Sunday evening, where Rory Stewart seemed to come out on top.
Further analysis has been posted here.
